| Good afternoon, Cary Residents,
I hope this message finds you well. Cary has recently been in the news, unfortunately not for positive reasons, but I firmly believe that this episode will ultimately not define who we are and help strengthen our community. The entire Council has been working diligently to address the developing issues while ensuring that the morale of our dedicated staff remains intact. The good news is that all our essential services continue as expected, and we remain focused on the business of Cary. We owe a debt of gratitude to our staff members for their resilience during this challenging time, providing the much-needed stability our town requires, and to residents for your continuous engagement.
 On a personal note, I am also prioritizing my health and family, including my daughter and our two dogs, as we await university admission decisions for Aanya. Lyka (10) and Bella (5) have been diagnosed with tumors, which feel like a bad dream, given all the joy they have brought into our lives since we brought them home. We are seeking the best medical care possible for them and would greatly appreciate your prayers.
 In brighter news, I am honored to share that I was voted the Woman of the Year in 2025 WRAL Voters’ Choice Awards, which has been a much-needed ray of hope in our lives.
As promised, I want to continue to share important updates about Cary with you. |
- The Council made a difficult but necessary decision in November 2025 to part ways with our Town Manager, Sean Stegall, due to evidence suggesting unethical behavior. Since then, various other issues have arisen, leading the Council to engage an outside investigator. I assure you that the town is fully cooperating with the State Auditors, who have now referred the case to the District Attorney’s office and the SBI. Our focus remains on rebuilding trust with both staff and residents.
- with a fresh perspective, aiming to set the stage for a more in-depth examination of the FY 2027 budget. I have requested a further review of the fund balance for our existing fund balance policy as Cary maintains a robust AAA rating. However, I strongly believe we must scrutinize every expense with a more critical lens.FY 2026 budgetThe Council also reviewed the
- Work session on Jan 8th was an important meeting when Council met for the first time after we separated from our Town Manager. I provided a list of items for further review concerning existing policy and recommendations to strengthen our processes based on the issues that were brought to our attention. I motioned for our staff to work on these items in our work session on Jan 8th, with Councilwoman Craig seconding my motion. The request is for staff to share the current policies with the Council and to provide recommendations, outlining the pros and cons of the following areas:
- Spending authority of the Town Manager
- Professional development opportunities for Council members and senior staff
- Requiring Council approval before reallocating budgeted funds for special projects
- Implementing a structured review of senior staff spending and documenting time away from the office
- Reviewing travel expenditures of senior staff for accountability
- Conducting a comprehensive review of the Town’s budget with full Council participation
- Reporting on the Town’s fund balance during quarterly meetings
- Wake County shared their plan with us about prioritizing EMS calls based on the severity; immediate danger to one’s life vs a call with non life threatening emergencies. There were information sessions that were organized for elected officials but I was not able to attend those due to conflict but I was able to get the updates from our town’s Fire Chief. We do not have any additional information when this change will go into effect but will continue to to share with Cary residents as it is made available to us. You can always send feedback to Wake County Commissioners and office for details if needed.
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Meetings/ things to look out for :
- Town Council meeting is scheduled for tomorrow Jan 22nd at 6:30 pm et – open to public
- I am planning to introduce office hours for walk in meetings with residents
- Shadowing opportunities for High School students – will share the details soon
Thank you for your continued engagement. Together, we will navigate these challenges and work towards a stronger Cary.
Please feel free to email me on info@sarika4cary.com; town business related questions should be directed to sarika.bansal@carync.gov
Warm regards,
Sarika Bansal
Cary Town Council District D representative |
